10-man D.C. United somehow hang on for 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls: Match report

D.C. United had a nearly ideal first half against the New York Red Bulls, but a shock red card left them hanging on for dear life in a 2-1 win that kept their playoff hopes alive in MLS's Eastern Conference.

An early Tai Baribo penalty set United on their way, and Silvan Hefti's second goal of the season seemed to set the Black-and-Red up for a second league win in 11 attempts.

However, Lucas Bartlett was controversially sent off midway through the second half, and beyond Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's goal, the hosts escaped several extraordinary sequences to secure the victory.

United couldn't have asked for a better start. A 3rd-minute exchange between Kimito Nono and Oscar Avilez — the latter making his MLS debut — freed the Japanese wide man to clip a service across goal from the endline. Brandon Servania did enough to keep the play alive, and Baribo's attempt to finish was disrupted by Adri Mehmeti's clumsy challenge.

Referee Guido Gonzales Jr. had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick, which Baribo duly buried in what was his 15th goal of the season.

D.C.'s early control waned as the Red Bulls began hoarding possession, with the hosts having to fend off multiple free kicks as the first half wore on. Cade Cowell forced Sean Johnson into one save, and did even better to react after RBNY's best exchange of the half eventually freed Julian Hall up inside the box.

After spending so much of the half on the back foot, United nearly tacked on a second just before the break. A long throw-in didn't initially pan out, but Silvan Hefti's recycled cross fell to Avilez at the back post, where the 16-year-old took a touch before lashing a shot off the foot of the post.

United seemed to be finding some life, and picked up a vital second goal with essentially the final touch before halftime. Keisuke Kurokawa's back-post corner found Baribo, who nodded back across goal for Hefti to power a free header home from close range.

Johnson had to be sharp as play resumed, tipping Mohammed Sofo's shot on turn barely wide, but United were showing some danger on the counter. Jackson Hopkins' enterprising 52nd-minute run saw him roll a cross to his fellow academy product Avilez, but Devin Padelford did just enough to prevent a potential goal.

RBNY weren't making inroads, with manager Michael Bradley opting for a quadruple sub in the 57th minute. One of those changes, Emil Forsberg, was denied by an excellent Johnson kick-save in the 64th minute. On the resulting corner, United were lucky that Sofo's attempted volley barely made contact.

Things were proceeding comfortably enough beyond that moment for United, but Gonzales Jr. — with little warning — stunned the home crowd by giving Bartlett his second booking of the night for time-wasting over a midfield free kick.

Suddenly, United were wobbling. Nono saved a goal-bound shot from Forsberg moments later, and then the Swedish midfielder slipped Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in behind, with the ex-Bayern Munich forward rounding Johnson in the 71st minute to get the Red Bulls back within a goal.

The hosts looked adrift, with Sean Nealis coming on to save a sure goal as Cameron Harper's cross bypassed Johnson. Harper went closer himself in the 86th minute, lunging to get contact on a ball over the top. Somehow, his touch became a dangerous effort, beating Johnson and rolling slowly across goal before touching off the inside of the post.

Somehow, United escaped. Johnson saved Julián Bazán's stoppage time header, and Audi Field heaved a sigh of relief.

The crucial win pushes United (7-12-9) within three points of the Red Bulls, who hold the ninth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth. The Black-and-Red need to keep the positive results coming this Saturday, when they travel to face Orlando City in another battle of teams on the playoff bubble. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 28)
10/14/2026

D.C. United 2 (Baribo 5pen, Hefti 50+)
New York Red Bulls 1 (Choupo-Moting 71)

Lineups:
DCU (433): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Kimito Nono, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania; Oscar Avilez (Jared Stroud 56), Tai Baribo, Jackson Hopkins (João Peglow 56)

Red Bulls (433): Ethan Horvath; Dylan Nealis (C), Justin Che (Jakheel Marshall-Rutty 57), Julián Bazán, Devin Padelford; Mohammed Sofo, Adri Mehmeti (Emil Forsberg 57) Ronald Donkor (Sékou Koné 78); Jorge Ruvalcaba (Cameron Harper 57), Julian Hall, Cade Cowell (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 57)

Bookings:
DCU - Bartlett 22, Hopkins 29, Bartlett 68 (sent off)
Red Bulls - Padelford 19, Nealis 66, Donkor 73

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Weather: Muggy, partly cloudy, 81°
Attendance: 13,319